Page 122 of Steel

I have her take my phone to the bathroom door so I can tell Lyric goodnight and then do the same with Bailee.

Before I head toward the clubhouse, I shoot off a quick text to Em asking her to go stay with my girls until I get home. She responds back shortly, agreeing and telling me Killer Kitty Inc. are on them too.

After thanking her, I toss my leg over my bike and fire it up. I roar out of the lot and throttle toward the clubhouse, secure in the knowledge that my girls are protected as best as possible.

Chapter thirty-one

Shock washes through mewhen I receive the text from Steel asking me if I’d go sit with Lyric until he gets home sometime tonight.

I have no clue what’s going on, and I know itmatters, but right now, it doesn’t. All that I care about is that he’s trusting me with the most important person in the world to him.

By myself.

That’s huge, and it means absolutely everything to me.

Farryn’s walking past after I send him a reply saying I will. She just finished her last set for the night, and I need to find a ride to Steel’s quickly.

There’s no way I’m letting him down.

“Hey, Ryn! Wait up,” I call, hurrying to catch her.

She stops, glancing over her shoulder with a smile. “Hey, girl.”

“Hey. I have a favor to ask.”

Farryn’s eyes warm with surprise. “Of course.”

“Steel needs me at his place to sit with Lyric until he gets home. I don’t have a way there. Do you mind giving me a ride? I’ll put some gas in for you.”

“Sure thing, sugar. You got time for me to toss on some clothes really quick and get this goop off my face?”

“Absolutely. I’ve got to go grab my bag anyway.” I reach out and take her hand in mine, giving it a squeeze. “Thank you, Ryn. Seriously.”

She waves it off. “No thanks needed. He’s trusting you with his kid, Bails. That’s pretty significant.”

I beam, happiness bursting through me at her words. “I know.”

Farryn blinks at me as if she’s stunned by something.

Tilting my head, I study her, trying to understand why she’s staring at me like that. “Farryn?”

She blinks again, shaking her head and giving me a sheepish smile. “Sorry. That thing is pretty potent. Be careful where you aim it, will you?”

“Sorry,” I grumble, dropping my smile. “I was just happy.”

Farryn reaches out, grasping my chin between her fingers. “Don’t do that, girl. I didn’t say that to kill your smile. I said it because I don’t think you know how powerful it is. It’s damn beautiful. You don’t smile nowhere near enough, Bails.”

“Not a lot to smile about. Lyric and Steel are the only things keeping me sane right now. I’m worried they’re going to disappear any minute, and I’m so damn terrified Steel’s club is going to find out about me and this mess before we get the chance to tell them.”

“Stop worrying, babe. Steel wouldn’t have put it all on the line if you weren’t worth it.”

“Yeah,” I say quietly, trying to process her words, yet still struggling to believe them.

Farryn taps her thumb against my chin before letting me go. “I know that darkness in your eyes. I’ve seen it in my own too many times to count. Youareworthy. Those monsters in yourhead will try to make you feel differently. Just don’t let them win, Bails.”

Her words resonate with me, and I soak them in, trying hard to get them to stick. My past and my father try to claw their way into my brain. Aches pop up over my body as I remember all the times his fists found home against my skin as his words took up residence in my soul.

Worthless.

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